Chapter 1166 - 307: Blood Shadow Rings Bewitch the Ancient Path, Golden Rays Pierce the Mist Revealing the Heroic Soul (Part 2)

Shi Nian suddenly babbled, reaching out her little hand for a hug.

The two exchanged smiles and Shi Feiyang picked up his son, and the family of three embraced tightly.

Outside the window, the evening deepened, but inside the warmth pervaded, as if shutting out the bloodstained storm outside.

At this moment, all tiredness and worries melted into gentle affection, leaving only endless tenderness and attachment.

In the carved copper stove, Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance rose in curls, weaving a hazy veil in the dim candlelight.

Shi Feiyang smoothed away the loose strands of hair by Shi Ying’s temples, his fingertips touching the faint red scar behind her ear—a wound from a stray arrow when defending the pass, not yet healed. "Does it still hurt?" His voice was low, infused with a warmth that could melt ice, as he gently placed his palm, imbued with the warmth of Bright Jade Technique, over the wound. Shi Ying leaned against his chest, listening to the steady, strong heartbeat, a faint smile curling at her lips, "Compared to the battles you’ve faced, what does this count for? That day at Hetao Camp, when Xie Wen sent back news that you were trapped by poisonous fumes, my whole body turned cold, and the Celestial Star Pill dropped from my hand; it took me half the day to react and pick it up." She lifted her head, fear lingering in her eyes, "Do you know? Every time you leave, I count the water clock until dawn, dreading that I’ll receive terrible news."

Shi Feiyang held her tighter, his chin resting on the crown of her hair: "From now on, I’ll take fewer risks. Do you remember when we first met at Bozhou, how you stood beneath the apricot tree with your sword, saying ’Even if Celestial Demon Sect is small, we won’t tolerate scoundrels’? At that moment, I thought, the light in this woman’s eyes is brighter than the stars."

He suddenly laughed, his laughter sending a shiver through Shi Ying, "Who would have thought that now, this brilliant star would worry for me?"

"Stop teasing." Shi Ying lightly punched his chest but buried her face deeper, "You always say I’m the star, yet in my heart, you are the one holding up the sky. Today the heroes were hurt; without your return, everyone is like kites with broken strings, lacking a backbone."

She paused, her voice suddenly choking, "I don’t ask for you to be a hero; I only ask for your safety..."

Shi Feiyang cupped her face, their eyes meeting, candlelight dancing in each other’s gaze. "Do you remember our marriage vows?" he softly said, "’To share the same bed in life, and the same coffin in death.’ Since I agreed, I won’t go back on my word. Once the chaos at Bozhou is settled, we’ll take Nian’Er back home to Jiangnan. We’ll build a house by West Lake, watch the willows in spring, and enjoy the snow in winter, and I won’t let you worry every day."

Shi Nian suddenly babbled, reaching out her little hand to join the couple’s embrace.

Shi Feiyang laughed as he lifted his son up, letting him sit on his shoulder: "Look, Nian’Er is also looking forward to those days."

He looked down at Shi Ying’s reddened eyes, saying again, "In the future, if I need to travel far, I’ll take you along. You use the Celestial Star Pill to save lives, and I’ll wield the Hundred Victories Saber to protect you. Together as husband and wife, won’t we be more carefree than immortal lovers?"

Shi Ying laughed through her tears, reaching out to tweak Shi Nian’s little nose, "Always drawing big pie to coax us mother and son. But..." She leaned against Shi Feiyang’s shoulder, her gaze tender and resolute, "As long as it’s you saying it, I’ll believe."

The next morning, the iron chain at Feima Pass moved, and the thousand-pound bronze gate thunderously fell, the words "Peace Avoided" inscribed in red, were faintly visible amidst the poisonous fumes. Yin Jiuniang lazily reclined on the viewing platform piled with bones, her cinnabar veil barely covering the skin marked with blue-black patterns. Her fingertips slowly caressed a gold hairpin, the metallic creaking mixing with the choruses of insects in the poisonous mist, sending chills down the spine.

Suddenly, a white pigeon broke through the miasma, spiraling downwards. Her jade hand raised gracefully, and the secret message tied to the pigeon’s tail fell into her palm. She glanced at the words "Shi Feiyang has returned" on the note, her eye wrinkles suddenly sharp as though carved by a knife, "Shi Feiyang? Hehe, you brat finally dare to show your face?" As she spoke, footsteps approached from behind, more than a dozen figures treading hastily over the ground covered in poisonous moss.

Beggar Gang Leader Zhong Renwang tapped the ground with a bamboo staff, nine iron rings clashed with a piercing sound: "I’ve heard that Shi Feiyang locked himself away indoors, obviously intimidated by Master Yin’s awe yesterday, his courage already broken!" The saliva on his tangled beard hadn’t dried, yet he seemed entirely unaware, "When it comes to the use of poison, Sect Leader is indeed unparalleled, unmatched by anyone!"

"Master Zhong’s words are mistaken!" Elder Ding Hong shook a wine gourd and came forward, his murky eyes swirling around Yin Jiuniang, "Sect Leader is not only unmatched in poison technique, but also in yesterday’s encounter, laughing as she sent Shaolin and Wudang retreating; such grace is truly peerless!" His sycophantic attitude prompted Wu Yuan, Wu Si, and Wu Ji, the siblings beside him, to nod repeatedly, their torn and ragged patchwork clothes rustling with their movements.

Divine Sword Manor’s Young Manor Master Xie Zhichuan stood with his sword, the jade pendant at his waist glimmering faintly in the poisonous mist: "Shi Feiyang merely escaped by luck, how can he compare to Sect Leader’s sky-reaching means?" Having once been backfired by the Kunlun Flame Technique, Xie Zhichuan’s skin was wrinkled all over, pitch black, terrifying like a piece of charcoal. He deliberately lowered his voice, "If Sect Leader desires, I am willing to lead the disciples of the manor to flatten Feima Pass for you!"

Mingjian Manor’s Manor Master Dugu yan laughed shrilly, the eunuch’s uniquely soft voice reverberating in the miasma, "Nephew Xie is still too young. If Sect Leader wants to break the pass, it’s merely a matter of lifting a hand, why bother with a big fuss?"

He swung the duster lightly, sweeping away the drifting poisonous mist, "In my opinion, Sect Leader’s celestial demeanor is the true, deserved Alliance Leader of Martial Arts!"

"Poisonous Hand Nuwa" Li Wuduo wriggled her snake-like waist to squeeze to the front row, the powder on her face corroded by the poisonous mist leaving spots, "Alliance Leader’s title is unworthy of Sect Leader! In my view, you should be honored as ’Poison God’! Who can bring the ’Golden Body of Ten Thousand Poisons’ to perfection? Sect Leader’s unparalleled beauty is rare in heaven and earth!"